Drive mechanism for a running toy

Abstract

A moving toy includes a plurality of articulated, body-forming members configured as a crawling animal. A wheeled, forward member includes drive means for propelling the toy and an actuating means with radially extending arms. The actuating means contacts a lever on an adjacent body forming member to intermittently pivot the members, thereby simulating an arching or undulating motion in a rearward portion of the toy.

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 
     
       1. A moving toy apparatus comprising: plurality of articulated body-forming members configured as a crawling animal, pivotably connected to each other including: a first body forming member with at least one ground engaging wheel; and,   a second body forming member pivotably connected to said first body forming member;     drive means for driving said wheel thereby propelling said first body forming member;   a lever, connected to said second body forming member for pivoting said second member with respect to said first body forming member; and,   lever actuating means rotated by said drive means and having at least one radially extending arm for contacting said lever to intermittently pivot said second body forming member with respect to said first body forming member.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plurality of articulated body-forming members further includes: a third body forming member pivotably connected to said second body forming member; and,   a fourth body forming member pivotably connected to said third body forming member;   whereby ends of said second and third body forming members, pivotably connected to each other, are moved upwardly by pivoting of said second member with respect to said first body forming member.   
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein forward motion of said first body forming means intermittently slowed by loading of the drive means responsive to the intermittent pivoting of said second body forming member with respect to said first member. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein energy for propelling said first body forming member is stored in said drive means by manually rotating said lever actuating means. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said drive means is a spring drive means including a spiral spring and a rotatable shaft connected to one end of said spring; and, wherein said lever actuating means is mounted on said shaft.   
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said lever is "L"-shaped, a first leg of which lever is attached to said second body forming member at an axis of pivoting of the member with respect to the first body forming member; and, the second leg of which "L"-shaped lever extends outwardly from a longitudinal axis of said plurality of body forming members, the second leg being intermittently contacted by the radially extending arm of said lever actuating means.